Work clamp for slicing machines



Mar ch 1, 1932. H. STUKART WORK CLAMP FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jan. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. STUKART WORK CLAMP FOR SLICING MACHINES March 1, 1932.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1928 wwww Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES? PATENT orrics HENDRIK STUKART, OF LA PORT E, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE COMPANY OF LA-PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA WORK CLAMP roe smontdnacnmns Application filed January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,497.

In holding meat in position to be sliced in slicing machines it isoi'ten found that the clamp, while suitable'for holding one kind of food, as for instance meat, is entirely uni suited for holding another kind of food, such as cheese or the like;

An object of this invention is to provide a meat clamp with a detachable clamp plate on the opposite sides of which are formed 1' clamping surfaces of different contour.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for detachably holding the clamp plate in place.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation showing my improved clamp on a meat slicing machine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the meat clamp shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one side of the clamp plate, W

Fig. 4 is a section through the clamp holder. v

The slicing machine structure shown in 25 Fig. 1 with which my improved clamp is associated includes a connecting rod 4 which reciprocates the under table 3 on guides supported by the frame or base 5. Themeat table 2 slides onthe under table and is fed toward the plane of the cutting edge of the slicing knife in the well-known manner. 6

is the meat end grip used when the piece to be sliced is too short to be held by the regular meat clamp. 1

The clamp holder 9 is provided with a sleeve 8 which is slidably mounted onthe up- .right 7 carried by the meat table 2. The

sleeve carries a tongue 11 normally urged in clamping engagement with the upright 7 by a spring-urged plunger 12. An upright shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 is spaced from the upright 7 and is also mounted on the meat table 2. This second post serves as a guide for a connecting and steadying member extending from the sleeve 8. 30 is a handle that eX- tends at any angle from the sleeve 8. This structure together with the releasing means for the clamping tongue is all shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 183,386,

filed April 13 1927, and it is therefore notbelieved necessary to describe this structure again in detail.

The clamp plate 13 comprises an elongated fiat plate with marginal flanges 14 which may be integral with or separately formed on the ilate 13. The flanges 14 are formed with 02th or corrugations 15. The clamping plate 13 has a hole near the center and aslightly otical orifice at one end to receive the pin 19 fixed in the clamp member 9. A stud 7 extends from the clamp holder 9 and has slidably mounted thereon the clamping plate lock 19. A compressed spring 27 surrounds the stud and bears at one end against the head of the stud and at'the other end against a shoulder or bushing 20 cast in the'member 19. A guide pin 21 is fixed in the member 19 and slides in a hole drilled in the end 01" the clamp holder 9. The clamp holder 9 has flanges 1-l2 at the bottom forming a recess 1O in the base of the clamp holder and near one end of the recess the clamp holder carries a conical headed screw 23 similar to a screw 24 threaded into the clamp plate lock 19.

Theclamping plate has a notch 25 at one end and anotch 26 a the other end. These notches conform in contour to the beveled heads of the screws projecting below the clamp holder 9 and the look 19. The clamp plate 13 is attached to the clamp holder 9 by inserting the screw 23 into the notch 25 while holding the plate at an angle suiticient to receive the pin 18 in the orifice 17 The plate 13 may now be held against the clamp holder 9 with the pin 18 projecting into or toward the orifice 17 and the end of the plate overlappingthe screw 24. The clamp late lock 19 is now pulled along the stud 7 away from the clamp holder 9 against the compression of the spring 27, and the plate 13 is held with the notch-26 in alineinent with the beveled portion of the screw Upon release of the clamp lock 19 the screw 24 will engage the notch 26 and the plate 13 will be compressed between the two screws 23 and M. Vvhen it is desired to remove the clamping plate it is Fig. 1 shows the clampin plate attached the side carrying the teeth and the clamp holder 9 has a hole 29 to receive the pin'QS when the clamping plate attached to the clamp with the teeth extending unwar When the meat side of the plate 13 A in the pin 28 usually projects adjacent the side or through the side edge oi the meat.

It is to be noted that the clamp holder 9 is not used when the meat end grip is used. The clamp holder 9 may be used to helpsecure the meat end grip in place by providing the plate 31 on the grip with a pin to enter t. hole 16 in the plate 13. The fla ges l4: on the plate 13 t over the top of the nmtt grip 6 whenthe clamp 9 islowered.

In order to absorb the 1 he would be caused by the clamp abutting stop at t e top, of tie post 7, a bumper constructi ignited as awhole by 31 (Fig. 1 is Upon the reduced end 32 of the mounted a cylindrical member end 01:" which is closed by a wash or no oel l 5 s provided. post 7 1S to the reduced end 32 by a sore v spring surrounds the reduced end and compressed between the washer 36 an, base of cylinder 3%. A rubber r fibre u 30 is interposedbetween the member the shoulder at the top out the post '7 in order to prevent a clicking noise'caused by the metal to metal contact of the sleeve 8 a d me; .b 34. WVhen the sleeve 8 stri :e against the washer 33 the shock is comple ely absorbed by the compression of the spring "5 caused by the movement of the wall of th 34: past the periphery of the washer 36.

From the foregoing d scription it will be seen that I have provided a clan i h l "food on slicing machines, which through very simple operation may be adapted to clamp various kinds of food products. The teeth 15 are adapted for clamping meat and similar substances, but if it is desired to clamp cheese or other substances that might be mutilated by the teeth, the "lamp" may be reversed and the flat side. of the plate used.

The method of clamping the o ate 13 to the holder 9 through the beveled hr .ed elements 23 and 2-iis both simple and eiiiciont. Elie beveled or conical heads on the screws 23 pcrform two functions; they form abutments between which the plate 13 is claand ti also provide guides for the edges of the plme that permitthe plate to a toniatically position itself tightly against the bottom surface of the holder 9 under the action of s'pri operated clamp 19.-

Al-though the plate 31 is shown with a 30 to be received in the hole 16 of thee rem plate, this pin is not necessary when the plate 30 has a fiat top adapted to fit snugly within the flanges on the clamp plate 13. The meat end grip is held against bodily n'iovement toward the knife but i may roclt slightl about its lower guide pin (not shown). he plate 31 may be extended away from the knife to position the top of the plate to the rear of the axis about which the grip tends to pivot. The meat clamp when pushed down on the plate 3'1 then tends to force the end grip backwarc and the grip side lug 4E1 against the upright 10. The meat end grip is thus held firmly in all directions and it cannot be moved unless the meat clamp is lifted up. If, however, the top of the plate 31 were narrow and vertically above the lower guide pin, the rocking moren'ient would be practically on a horizontal line the narrow point oi": the plate 31, and the pin 30 would then have to be used.

The pin :28 may be permanently secured in the holder 9, in which case the pin would of course protrud when either side of the clamp plate is used.

I claim the food to be clamped.

2. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamping plate having upstanding corrugated flanges on one side and a substantially smooth surface on the opposite side; aco-opcrating means on said holderand clamping plate permitting said plate tobe attached to said holder with said corrugated flanges disposed toward the t'ood to be clamped, said cooperating means also permitting said plate to be attached to said holder with said smooth surface disposed toward the food tobe clamped and with said flanges disposed on opposite sides of said holder.

3. In a slicing machine having a work talo; a clamp mounted above and extending over said table and adjustable toward and away from said table to clamp the food between said clamp and said table; said clamp comprising a clamping plate holder and a clamp plate; said clamp plate being formed with corrugations on one side and with a substantially smooth flat surface on the opposite side, and cooperating means on said holderand plate permitting said plate to be attached to said holder with said flat surface disposed toward said table, said co-0perating means also permitting said corrugations on said plate to be disposed toward said table.

l. In a clamp for clamping foodon a slicing machine; an elongated clamping plate holder; an elongated clamping plate having upstanding corrugated flanges on one side and a substantially smooth surface on the opposite side; co-operating means on said holder and clamping plate'permitting said plate to be attached to said holder with said corrugated flanges disposed toward the food to be clamped; said co-operat-ing means also permitting said plate to be' attached to said holder with said smooth surfaces disposed toward said foodto be clamped and-with said flanges extending upwardly along the sides of said holder. j v A 5. In a slicing machine having a. work table of a clamp mounted above and'extending over said table and adjustable toward and away from said tableto clamp the food between said clamp and table, said clamp comprising an elongated clamping plate holder; an elongated clamping plate having upstanding corrugated flanges on'one side and a su s'tantiallyflatsmooth surface on the opposite. side; co-operating means on said holder and plate permitting said plate to be attached to said holder with said corrugated flanges disposed toward said table, said co-operating means also permitting said plate to be attached to said holder with said smooth surface disposed toward said table and with said flanges extending upwardly along the sides of said holder. 7

6. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on opposite sides; co-operating retaining means between one end of said plate and said holder; a clamp plate lock carried by said holder co operating retaining means on the other end of said plate and on said lock, and a spring tending normally to urge said lock toward said retaining means on said holder to clamp said plate between said lock and said retaining means on said holder.

7. In a slicing machine having a worlr table; of a clamp mounted above and extend ing over said table and adjustable toward and away from said table to clamp the food between said clamp and table; said clamp comprising a clamping plate holder and a clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on opposite sides; co-operating retaining means between one end of said plate and said holder; a clamp plate lock carried by said holder; co operatingretaining means on the other end of said plate and on said lock and a spring tending normally to ur e said look toward said retaining means on said holder to clamp said plate between said lock and said retaining means on said holder.

8. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamp plate having teeth on one side and a substantially smooth flat surface on the other side; co-operating retaining means between one end of said plate and said holder; a pin projecting from said holderand an elon gated orifice in said plate to receive said pin; a clamp plate lockcai-ried by said holder; co-operating retaining means on the other end of said plate and saidlock and a spring tending normally to urge said lock toward said retaining means on said'holder to clamp said plate between said lock and said retaining means on said holder.

of said holder and said lock to receive said a .notched portlons of said plate; and a spring associated with said lock to clamp said netween retaining elements.

Quiet '10. In a clamp for clamping food on a plate slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a

clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on its opposite sides and a notched portion at each end; a clamp plate lock carried by said holder; a conical headed element carried by and projecting from each of said holder and said lock to receive said notched portions of said plate, and a spring associated with said lock to clamp said plate betweenthe conical heads of said elements.

11. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on its opposite sides; a clamp plate lock for detachably' securing said plate to said holder; said clamp lock comprising a headed stud extending from said holder; a sleeve slidably mounted on said stud; a shoulder in said sleeve and a spring for said stud bearing against said shoulder and head and an element carried by said sleeve releasably engaging said plate.

12. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on its opposite sides; a clamp plate lock for detachably securing said plate to said holder; said clamp lock comprising a headed stud extending from said holder; a sleeve slidably mounted on said stud; a shoulder in said sleeve and a spring for said stud bearing against said shoulder and head; a guide pin carried'by said sleeve and received in a recess in said holder.

13. In a clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine; a clamping plate holder; a clamp plate having on. its opposite sides differently contoured clamping surfaces; a headed stud secured in saidholder; a sleeve having ashoulder thereon slidable on said stud; a spring bearing against the head of said stud and saidshoulder; abutment elements projecting from said holder and ing from one end of said plate beyond saidcorrugated surface; co-operating'meanson' said holder and plate permitting either of said surfaces to be disposed toward the food to be clamped; said holder having a recess therein to receive said pin when said smooth. surface'is disposed toward the food to be clamp ed :15." In a clamp for clamping food on a slicingmachine; a clamping plate holder, a,

clamp plate having a relatively smooth flat surface on one side and a corrugated clamping surface on the other side a pin projecting beyondsaid corrugated surface at the end of said plate; co-operating means on said holder and plate permitting either of said surfaces to be disposed toward the food to be clamped. 16. A clamp for clamping food on a slicing machine comprising a clamping plate holder, a clamp plate having differently con toured clamping surfaces on opposite sides thereof, co-operating retaining means between one end of said plate and said holder, a clamp plate lock carried by said holder, cooperating retaining means on the other end of said plate and said lock, and means for normally urging said lock toward said retaining means on said holder to clamp said platebetween said lock and said retaining means.

17. A clamp for slicing machines comprising an arm, a clamping plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces, cooperating retaining means between one end of said plate and said arm, a locking means carried by said arm, co-operating retaining means on the other end of said plate and said lock, said loclr being movable longitudinally of said clamping plate to hold said clamping plate on said arm with a selected one of said clamping surfaces exposed in operative relation to the substance which is to be clamped.

18. A clamping device for slicing machines comprising a clamping arm, a clamping plate having notches in opposite edges thereof, means for detachably connecting said clamping plate to said arm comprising abutments on said arm adapted to engage the notches in said clamping plate to prevent movement of said clamping plate relative to said arm.

19. A cl ampingdevice for slicing machines comprising a clamping arm, a clamp plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces on its opposite sides, aclamp plate lock for detachably securing said plate to said arm, said clamp lock comprisinga headed stud extending from said arm, means for normally moving said lock in one direction toward said clamping plate, and an abutment on said arm against which said clamping plate is adapted to be moved by the action of said lock on said clamping plate.

20. A clamping device for slicing machines comprising an arm, a clamping plate having differently contoured clamping surfaces thereon, a fixed abutment on said arm, a movable abutment mounted on said arm and movable relatively to said fixed abutment, and a yielding means for moving said-movable abutment toward said fixed abutment, said clamping plate being adapted to be mounted between said abutments and held in a predetermined position relatively to, said arm with a selected one of said clamping surfaces arranged in a position to engage the substance to be clamped.

21. A clamping device for slicing machines comprising an arm, a clamping plate having differently contouredclamping surfaces thereon, a fixed abutment on said arm, a movable abutment mounted on said arm and movable relatively to said fixed abutment, and a spring for moving said movable abutment toward said fixed abutment, said clamping plate being adapted to be mounted between said abutments and held in a predetermined position relatively-to said arm with a selected one of said clamping surfaces arran -ed in a position to en a e the substance to be clamped.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 12th day of January, A. D. 1928.

- HENDRIK STUKAR-T. 

